Episode 26
Right after filming had just finished.
The students who had applied to participate left the set, their lingering regrets pushed to the back of their minds.
"Will the four passers please stay behind for a moment!"
Besides my teammates and me, that is.
*It must be to inform us about the filming schedule and related matters going forward.*
While watching the set being cleaned up by the crew and waiting quietly, a man approached.
Wearing sunglasses, it was Baycode with the stiff expression he always had.
But I knew the meaning behind that expression.
He looked like he was burning to say something.
Look, the corners of his mouth were twitching—exactly.
"Hello. Student Park Jahun? As you saw earlier, I am the producer Baycode."
"Ah, yes, hello."
"Haha, you look mature even off stage."
Baycode laughed as if amused when I bowed my head respectfully.
"Your music is even more mature."
"…Thank you."
"You rapped over my beat today, right?"
Then, after confirming that there were no other passers around me, he continued.
"To be honest, I have a lot of pride in my music. So when someone else raps over my song, my standards get higher."
The events from filming came to mind.
*…Come to think of it, most of the students who received harsh criticism had rapped over hyung’s song.*
I knew he had strong pride in his music, but to think he’d apply that even to high schoolers.
"So I wondered if I was holding the students to too harsh a standard."
I unconsciously almost said, *You really were,* but closed my mouth.
It wasn’t that for me, but from Baycode’s perspective, this was our first time meeting.
Then, Baycode fixed his gaze on me, staring intently.
"Until Student Park Jahun rapped."
It was a relaxed expression. A face that looked like some worry had been resolved, whatever it was.
"You know the next filming is mentor selection, right?"
"…I haven’t received any details about the filming yet, though?"
"Ah…. This unintentionally became a spoiler. Anyway, when you get the authority to choose your mentor, I hope you’ll think it over carefully."
I could tell what he meant at a glance, but I smiled and played dumb.
"What kind of thought?"
Baycode was the type to beat around the bush rather than appeal directly.
It was a joke born from the joy of seeing him after so long; I wanted to see that troubled face.
But without the slightest change in expression, Baycode continued speaking to me.
"Choose us for your team. I think we’ll suit each other well if we do music together."
"…Is it okay to appeal like this before the broadcast starts?"
"Haha, it’s a secret. Anyway, see you at the next filming."
Then, checking the crew’s eyes, Baycode quickly slipped out of the set.
*It’s almost his first time.*
Had that hyung ever appealed for something so directly?
I remembered he had even looked reluctant when I took him the freshly recorded *Red Martini*.
"…Well, want to record the next one together too?"
That was always how he used to speak.
*So he liked it that much, huh.*
It was probably influenced by how much I had listened to his music, and by having worked together before the regression.
With the Bridge Effect added on top, I could understand this reaction.
Thinking that, I was briefly troubled.
The set that had gone quiet as if the sound had cut off the moment I started rapping.
And the gazes that had gathered on me.
*It’s worth looking into.*
The theoretical rap skills learned at school, and the harmonic approaches.
To those, one more thing I needed to develop was added.
"Please come this way!"
While I was thinking, the crew called us over.
The place we followed them to was none other than the office next to the set.
"We’ll brief you on simple guidelines and contract details regarding future filming."
A person who appeared to be the director sat down and handed us documents.
*Appearance contract, and documents regarding confidentiality… Well, I suppose this much.*
I had never participated in a survival program before, but after reviewing it closely, there were no problematic clauses.
If there was anything to worry about, it was the broadcast station’s characteristic editing, but this was fine because the writer was Yeon Jimin.
She was someone who preferred eliminating participants through various missions rather than through editing.
*Should I say she has a quick read on characters? She puts people into missions they can’t handle and lets the situation get tangled up on its own.*
I received the documents and looked around.
Park Yunseok, Choi Hyeok, and even Hong Hyeonsik.
Everyone was reading the contract contents with serious expressions.
They seemed to be exercising due caution in their own way.
"Participants shall not be absent from filming without proper reason…."
Choi Hyeok’s muttering could be heard.
"…Are there people like this? If they let you film, shouldn’t you come running?"
*He’s not wrong.*
But there are always variables in this world.
"…There are rappers who have skipped the main stage too."
The director answered in a voice that seemed pained.
*Come to think of it, something like that happened before too… Could it be that he was the director back then?*
Looking at that expression, as if reminiscing about the past, it seemed correct.
He appeared to be the person in charge of the season when the rapper named Kim Sanho caused a no-show and ran away.
"I hope none of our passers have such incidents."
The director finished speaking, forcing a smile.
At his words, I unconsciously shifted my gaze and looked at one participant.
There, Hong Hyeonsik sat reading the contract intently.
*…Truly, you never know what will happen in this world.*
Even if not the very next filming, eventually Hong Hyeonsik… would be absent from filming.
*-Rapper Hong Hyeonsik has left the filming set!*
The subtitle from that time flashed through my memory.
The criticism and condemnation that followed the day the broadcast aired came to mind as well.
*It wasn’t a withdrawal discussed with the production team beforehand; he just punked out.*
If I planned to continue filming going forward, I needed to think about it.
Because it was unknown what kind of effect it would have on me.
"Um, first, read through the contract and sign it, then send it back by this week. The next filming will take place here at the set in two weeks."
While I was staring blankly, the director continued explaining the schedule.
"First, the next filming is mentor selection. The final decision will be made on that day, but it would be good to think about it in advance."
The director looked around at us, smiling.
He seemed to want scenes where we consulted in advance and clung to one mentor team.
"Yes!"
Choi Hyeok’s enthusiastic answer echoed through the office.
*…Come to think of it, he was the one who benefited.*
The reason his image was good at the time was his attitude.
Thanks to him quietly finishing the stage he had to do alone after Hong Hyeonsik dropped out.
And the label attached to Hong Hyeonsik, the one who triggered that incident, came to mind as well.
*-The biggest victim of School Rapper.*
*The remaining time is about a month.*
Hong Hyeonsik would be absent during the team competition that comes after mentor selection.
Within that time, I had to make a decision.
About how to deal with the noise this guy would cause in School Rapper… that is.
* * *
The set in Daegu City, where filming ended around the same time as Seoun.
Since filming followed a regional preliminary concept, recording was proceeding with teams divided like this.
*Tomorrow must be Busan City’s filming.*
PD Choi of Nnet, who was standing in the hallway, rubbed his tired eyes and thought.
That he hoped many talented kids would come out like today.
"Keh, the Daegu kids were pretty good?"
"Right, I thought only the Seoun side would do well. It’s a relief the balance is right."
He nodded at the assistant director’s words while sipping coffee beside him.
"…It’s not that I’m not a little worried, though."
The assistant director suddenly rubbed his nose, his voice turning bitter.
In his gaze were captured the Daegu City passers leaving the set.
*They do look rowdy.*
Whether it was from pride in their skills or the influence of their personalities.
The students’ attitudes had seemed somewhat arrogant.
On top of that, judging by the smell when they brushed past, they even seemed to be smoking.
"Well, they’re major participants. We should look into it."
"Yeah, tell them to check the student records with the writers later."
PD Choi nodded.
Thinking of the previous season, the program had practically secured buzzworthiness.
Considering the viewer demographic, there was no shortage of things to be careful about.
Meanwhile, the Daegu City passers leaving the set.
"How did three of our crew members make it?"
"Isn’t it obvious? Hyeokgyu gathered all the kids who are good in Daegu City."
Big Mouth, a hip-hop crew formed by Daegu City students.
The students who passed as members of it looked at Kim Hyeokgyu and continued speaking.
"Next is a team battle with representatives from other regions, do you know any of them?"
"There are some, but nothing to worry about."
"Keke, well, of course?"
Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, he opened his eyes wide and continued.
"But didn’t that kid transfer to a school in Seoun City? Is he coming out too?"
"Who are you talking about?"
When Kim Hyeokgyu turned around quickly and asked, the student giggled and answered.
"You know, the kid who stutters. He used to act up saying he could rap back in the day."
"…Is he good at rapping?"
"Well, so-so, I guess?"
At the student’s words, Kim Hyeokgyu turned his head as if deflated and walked forward.
"Hey, still, I think he was pretty good at rapping."
"Shut up. If that’s being good, I’m Eminem."
After Kim Hyeokgyu went ahead, a crew member approached the student.
"Anyway, if he acts cocky about rapping again this time, I won’t let it slide."
A twisted smile was spreading across the student’s face.
* * *
"Then, good work."
After the director finished speaking, we packed our things and went outside the set.
"Excuse me, Park Jahun?"
As soon as I got outside, Choi Hyeok approached me.
"How did you know earlier, by any chance?"
"Know what?"
"Didn’t you speak as if you knew I wouldn’t be eliminated?"
*…I thought he had a blank expression, but did he notice?*
From his broadcast appearance, I had thought he was just a character overflowing with passion, but he seemed to have some observational skills too.
"Well, last season there were also four passers per team."
"Huh?"
Choi Hyeok counted for a moment and nodded.
"You're right?"
"And audition programs by nature tend to increase the number of passers if anything; it’s hard to decrease them."
I couldn’t exactly say I had seen it from the future.
When I patched together something plausible, Choi Hyeok smiled as if he understood.
"You’re smart, you."
"Me, smart? …I just figured it would be like that."
"Haha, got it. But are you from Seoun Arts High?"
"Yeah, didn’t it come out when I explained my background earlier?"
"I was too nervous to hear everything. How old are you? I’m a sophomore."
At Choi Hyeok’s words, I smirked and answered.
"Senior."
"Uh…"
His pupils trembled.
For young kids, there is no clearer hierarchy than school year.
Thinking of teasing him a bit, I instead waved my hand.
"Since you didn’t know, it’s fine. Just be careful during filming."
"Y-yes. Hyung."
The guy let out a sigh of relief.
"Whew, I’m glad I only talked to friends in front of the camera earlier."
I nodded silently.
Even a small remark can become problematic if someone finds fault with it.
"Haha, anyway, I’ll call you hyung from now on. Then, hyung, do you think you know what the next mission is?"
"Mission?"
"Yes. The mission we’ll probably do on the day of mentor selection. I’ve been wondering what it’ll be."
It seemed he asked because he thought I had a good grasp of the program.
"Well… We’ll only know when we get to filming that day."
"I suppose so?"
When I acted as if I didn’t know, Choi Hyeok said he would keep thinking about it on his own.
"Uh… by the way, wasn’t he on our team too? The one who rapped tough."
"He was."
When I looked where Choi Hyeok pointed, I saw Hong Hyeonsik talking with someone.
"…Is that his girlfriend in front? She’s pretty."
And that person was unexpectedly…
*Seong Yuri?*
It was someone I knew too.
"Anyway, good work, hyung. See you next time. I’ll prepare my verses hard as you said."
When I didn’t react, Choi Hyeok soon disappeared.
I too immediately moved and approached Hong Hyeonsik and Seong Yuri.
"Yeah, do well at the next filming too! You know I’m rooting for you, right?"
"Y-yeah."
"See you later!"
By the time I got close, their conversation had already ended.
"We meet again here, Seong Yuri."
"Huh? Park Jahun. Did you finish filming well?"
Seong Yuri burst out laughing and looked at me.
"Well, more or less?"
"Ooh… Well, from what I’ve seen, you seem to be a definite passer. What rank? What place did you get?"
"…First place?"
"I heard a kid who’s really good got first place… that was you?"
Her already large eyes began to expand to nearly twice their size.
*I guess that was right.*
Seeing that, I continued.
"Did you hear it from Hong Hyeonsik?"
"Huh? Oh, right. But how do you know Heonsik?"
"Because we were filming together just now. How do you know him? You looked close."
"Hmm~ We are kind of close."
Seong Yuri made a subtle expression.
"…Are you in a some with him?"
"Are you crazy?"
She reacted as if startled and grumbled at my words.
"What some with family…!"
"Family?"
"Yeah, I’m related to Heonsik."
It was an unexpected story.
But it wasn’t shocking or anything.
*So that’s why Seong Yuri switched to being a producer.*
Seong Yuri, who had suddenly switched to hip-hop while majoring in classical.
Thinking that Hong Hyeonsik was the reason, it was understandable enough.
"Anyway, Park Jahun, do you have some time? I want to go somewhere."
"Where are you going?"
Hearing the question, Seong Yuri smiled slyly and continued.
"Hongdae? This time, not as a performer, but as an audience member."
*Hongdae….*
I briefly recalled what Choi Hyeok had said earlier.
He had asked if I seemed to know what the next mission was.
*Of course I know.*
The plot had changed a little, but they wouldn’t have changed the mission in that short time.
And if it’s mentor selection, they’ve always done missions the same way.
*Cypher.*
I looked at Seong Yuri and nodded.
"Yeah, let’s go."
"Ooh, why so cool? I thought you’d say you need to go practice."
At those words, I burst out laughing without realizing and answered.
"I am going to practice, though."
To prepare for the next mission, the cypher, there was no place like Hongdae.
Regressor on the Beat